§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the number of coalminers employed in Wales; and how these figures compare with similar figures for each year since 1964.
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§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsComprehensive figures covering all miners employed throughout the coal industry are not available. National Coal Board estimates of the average number of men on colliery books in Wales in recent years are as follows:
Thousands 1978 30.2 1979 29.0 1980 27.6 1981 26.5 1982 25.5 1983 *23.1 1984 †21.5 * Average for first nine months only. † As at 29 February 1984. Comparable figures for the period before 1978 are not readily available. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman when the detailed figuring is complete.